First Night was first conceived in Boston for the December 31, 1975 New Year’s Eve celebration.
The idea was developed by artist Clara Wainwright, who wanted to create a New Year’s Eve event centered on the arts rather than alcohol-heavy partying. The first celebration brought together a small group of artists and musicians, performing in both indoor and outdoor venues around Boston.
That format became the model for the First Night movement: a community-wide celebration featuring music, theater, dance, visual art and other performances. Its name refers to the first night of the new year, while its programming was designed to make cultural events accessible to broad audiences, including families.
The concept spread beyond Boston as nearby communities organized their own First Night celebrations. By the 1990s, First Night Boston featured work by more than a thousand artists, and in 2006 First Night events across the United States drew more than a million visitors. Boston is therefore the origin city, not merely an early adopter.